A Call to Continue! (2 Timothy 3:10-17)
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A Call to Continue -
Grace Church Nov. 18, 2018
Intro: Please take your Bibles (print or digital) and turn with me to and we will be reading vv. 10-17.
As you turn there … just want to let you know where we are heading in the month of December (have them pull out their bookmark)
Jesus - No Greater Love … Christmas Edition (we will also in April go thru an Easter edition)
No one has greater love than this: to lay down his life for his friends.
John
December 2nd
December 2nd
No Greater Love’s Reveal
( and )
December 9th
No Greater Love’s Hope
()
December 16th
No Greater Love’s Glory
()
December 23rd
No Greater Love’s Fulfillment
()
Christmas Eve
No Greater Love Revisited
(The Watchman’s Tale)
On the reverse side are some suggestions on how you can reach out to others with this “no greater love.”
Read and PRAY!
When I came to high school, I wanted to play sports. I soon discovered I was a bit too light for football and a bit too short for basketball. So I went out for the school track team (because one thing I could do was run!).
By the time my sr year rolled around, I was competing in two events: The two mile relay (I ran a half mile - twice around the track) and the one mile relay (I ran a quarter mile - once around the track). In the two mile relay … I was runner #1 … no pressure there! And in the one mile relay I was runner #3.
So the difference for me was that in the one mile relay I would receive the baton from another runner and continue (hopefully) the lead which he would give me (at least that was the plan!).
That pictures the rel’ship between the Apostle Paul and Timothy. Paul was coming to the close of his race.
I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.
2 Timothy 4:
Now he was handing off the baton and asking Timothy to continue running the race … even as Paul had done so. Here in this passage … Paul is calling Timothy to continue to run the race!
Note the similarity with how vv. 10 and 14 begin:
2 Timothy 3
But you have followed my teaching, conduct, purpose, faith, patience, love, and endurance,
But as for you, continue in what you have learned and firmly believed. You know those who taught you,
so that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.
2 Timothy 3:
Both verses begin with the exact same two words in Greek … su de … literally … BUT YOU!
Paul is setting up a contrast here … in v. 10 and v. 14 he is contrasting Timothy with the people he has just referenced in the preceding verses. Those who are lovers of themselves rather than lovers of God, holding to a form of godliness but denying its power … (overall summary as Paul lists 19 specifics as he describes people during these last days!).
So Paul knows that in the face of such opposition form such people - Timothy may be tempted to quit … take the easy way out … like water, seeking the path of least resistance. And so he gives Timothy two pieces of advice. The first:
STAY THE COURSE! Paul says in vs. 10 …
With that background … Paul says in vs. 10 …
“BUT YOU, Timothy have gone down a different path from these people who are resisting and repudiating God’s truth. … you are running on a different course!”
BUT YOU, Timothy have gone down a different path … you are running on a different course! How so?
But you have followed my teaching, conduct, purpose, faith, patience, love, and endurance,
2 Timothy 3:10
But you have followed my teaching, conduct, purpose, faith, patience, love, and endurance, along with the persecutions and sufferings that came to me in Antioch, Iconium, and Lystra. What persecutions I endured—and yet the Lord rescued me from them all. In fact, all who want to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.
On the surface, some might thing Paul is boasting here … “I am your model Christian, Timothy … so follow me if you want to be successful in your ministry!”
QUOTE: “No, Paul is not boasting. He has reasons quite other than exhibitionism for drawing attention to himself. He mentions his teaching first, and then goes on to supply two objective evidences of the genuineness of his teaching, namely the life he lived and the sufferings he endured.” (John Stott)
Stott, J. R. W. (1973). Guard the Gospel the message of 2 Timothy (pp. 94–95). Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press.
Stott, J. R. W. (1973). Guard the Gospel the message of 2 Timothy (pp. 94–95). Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press.
As Timothy’s mentor … Paul has taught him and modeled for Timothy just what a godly lifestyle looks like … it is one marked (in conduct) by the following:
purpose (and what was Paul’s purpose?)
For me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.
Philippians 1:
faith - believing the promises of God (even when the going gets tough)
patience - literally “long suffering” — a fruit of the Spirit which Paul demonstrated so often toward his opponents
love - agape love … Paul referring to his Christlike love for God and others (in contrast to what we saw earlier in chp 3 … in which so many love self, money and pleasure over God!)
endurance - hypomene .... to remain under … so when weighed down by trying circumstances - Paul, tho perhaps tempted to quit … never did! Never threw in the proverbial towel!
And it was not just the life he lived that demonstrated the genuineness of his teaching … but it was also the suffering he endured!
along with the persecutions and sufferings that came to me in Antioch, Iconium, and Lystra. What persecutions I endured—and yet the Lord rescued me from them all. In fact, all who want to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.
Here he reminds Timothy of a reality that will be the experience of every Christian who takes a stand for Jesus Christ --- persecution! He doesn’t say .. all who want to live a godly life in Christ Jesus MIGHT be persecuted … but WILL be persecuted! And Paul states why we can count on persecution when we stand for Jesus in
Evil people and impostors will become worse, deceiving and being deceived.
if we are faithless, he remains faithful,
for he cannot deny himself.
2 Timothy 2:
Evil people .. (whom Paul described using 19 terms in his description in vv. 2-5 will only become worse. And the worse they become, the more resistant they will grow to God and his truth!
Paul experienced persecution up close and personal! In each of these three cities mentioned here … Paul on his first of three MJs … preached the gospel. He was eventually kicked out of all three cities! Consider how this happened in Lystra ...
And Paul was persecuted! In each of these three cities mentioned here … Paul on his first of three MJs … preached the gospel. He was eventually kicked out of all three cities! Consider how this happened in Lystra ...
Some Jews came from Antioch and Iconium, and when they won over the crowds, they stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city, thinking he was dead.
Acts 14:
So … bottom line … Paul is telling Timothy
STAY THE COURSE! Don’t get off the track. But take the baton I am giving you and continue to run the race as you have been doing! Continue to follow my teaching! Continue to imitate my godly life as I have sought to imitate Christ. Endure persecution as you have been doing! Don’t let the pressure cause you to quit! CONTINUE on the path you are on! STAY THE COURSE! And of course he reiterates this in v. 14 . . .
But as for you, continue in what you have learned and firmly believed. You know those who taught you,
LOOK BACK AND STAY THE COURSE! Don’t get off the track. But take the baton I am giving you and run the race! Continue to follow my teaching as you have been doing! Live a godly life and endure the persecution as you have been doing! Don’t let the pressure cause you to quit! CONTINUE on the path you are on!
Now in v.14 and ff he tells Timothy
Now Paul gives his second piece of advise … and this is really the key to him being able to fulfill Paul’s first bit of advice to STAY THE COURSE
GRIP THE SCRIPTURES!
“continue in what you have learned and firmly believed. You know those who TAUGHT you . . . “
What was Timothy to continue in? What did he firmly believe? What was he taught and by whom?
Answer:
and you know that from infancy you have known the sacred Scriptures, which are able to give you wisdom for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.
2 Timothy 3:
He was taught the sacred Scriptures … from infancy … which means it was most likely his mother and grandmother who taught him.
I recall your sincere faith that first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and now, I am convinced, is in you also.
2 Timothy 1:
Timothy’s G-mother and mother handed off to him God’s Word … and Timothy learned them and firmly believed them. Just like a relay runner takes the baton from the one who has gone before and grips that baton… knowing if he drops it his team will be disqualified.
Paul then goes on to remind Timothy of three powerful truths about the Scriptures (the Bible) … which should motivate him to grip the scriptures and never let go!
1. The Scriptures are effective!
As the word of God they are able to do quite a few things. For example … in the Bible we see God speaking his word and creation being formed and filled. We see the prophets speaking his word (Thus says the Lord) predicting both judgment and deliverance. We see Jesus (the God-Man) stilling a raging storm and raising a dead man to live through his word. The word of God is effective … when God speaks … things happen!
We can best relate to this in our own salvation experience.
and you know that from infancy you have known the sacred Scriptures, which are able to give you wisdom for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.
It is the “sacred Scriptures” (i.e. the Word of God) which gives us the wisdom to believe in Christ … and thus find salvation!
But I ask, “Did Israel not understand?” First, Moses said,
I will make you jealous
of those who are not a nation;
I will make you angry by a nation
that lacks understanding.
Romans 10:
So faith comes from what is heard, and what is heard comes through the message about Christ.
And just where do we find the message about Christ? … In this book! In just the NT gospels and epistles?
Romans 10:
Then beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted for them the things concerning himself in all the Scriptures.
Luke 24:27
Jesus to the two disciples on the road to Emmaus on the day he rose from the dead.
Kevin DeYoung got it right when he wrote: “The purpose of Holy Scripture is not ultimately to make you smart, or make you relevant, or make you rich, or get you a job, or get you married, or take all your problems away, or tell you where to live. The aim is that you might be wise enough to put your faith in Christ and be saved." (Taking God at His Word , p. 116)
Kevin DeYoung. Taking God at His Word (Kindle Locations 1455-1457). Crossway.
Gospel Invite … my friend …have you done this? Has God worked thru the gospel to convict you of your sin and rebellion against him … and shown you that the ONLY way to get right with God is thru the cross of Christ?
One of my greatest fears as a pastor is that on the great day of judgment that is coming for all … that there will be some (and perhaps that some includes some that are here in this room today) … but that there will be some who Jesus will say, “Depart from me, for I never knew you.”
(PRAY)
So why should we GRIP THE SCRIPTURES?
1. The Scriptures are effective!
Paul gives another truth that should compel us to grip the Bible in
All Scripture is inspired by God and is profitable for teaching, for rebuking, for correcting, for training in righteousness,
2 Timothy 3:
Here Paul is making it clear that the sacred Scriptures do not have their origin in the minds of men. He states that the totality of Scripture (ALL) is inspired (literally “breathed out” by God.
ILL —> Hold your hand like this in front of your mouth. When I count to three, I want you so say, “Good morning Pastor John!”
When you did that, did you feel anything on your hand? Your breath. Why? That is simply how you speak words … but your breath vibrating your vocal chords and your mouth forming the sounds … so that the result is the spoken word. They are YOUR words. The Bible is God’s words … because all the Scriptures are God-breathed. All! Not just the books you like or the nice promises … but even the portions that are hard to understand or difficult to hear!
WAIT ONE MINUTE JOHN! Wasn’t the Bible written by a bunch of different men over the course of a hundreds of years?
Correct …40 different authors over approximately 1600 years to be exact. But here is what you need to keep in mind.
because no prophecy ever came by the will of man; instead, men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.
Some how (not sure how) the HS (the third member of the Trinity) carried along the writers so that at the end of the day what they wrote was what God wanted written! And it was not thru dictation. The Spirit worked thru each writer, using their own uniqueness to achieve his ends.
ILL of this --- The NT was written in Greek, the trade language of the NT world. John (who wrote five books) was a fisherman with no formal education. His mother tongue was Aramaic. Greek was a second language. Luke (who wrote 2 books) was a highly educated Greek physician. Greek was his native language.
When Greek students begin to exegete a NT book, guess where they often start? With one of the books of John for his Greek is simply in its structure and vocabulary. Luke’s on the other hand is much more complex!
NOW … because the Scripture is God - breathed … it is … and here is the second powerful truth about the Bible:
2. The Scriptures are authoritative.
And this is so because God is our Creator … and as our Creator when he speaks … we must listen and obey!
In the past, I have led us from time to time in a confession concerning the Scripture. Part of this confession of faith reads …
We believe that the Scripture, being God’s own Word, written by men carried along by God’s Spirit as they wrote, is of infallible divine authority in all matters upon which it touches: it is to be believed, as God’s instruction, in all that it affirms, obeyed, as God’s command, in all that it requires; embraced, as God’s pledge, in all that it promises.
My friends .. is this how you view this book? Is this what you believe?
My time is running out … so here is the third powerful truth about the Bible that should cause us to GRIP IT AND NEVER LET GO!
3. The Scriptures are sufficient.
All Scripture is inspired by God and is profitable for teaching, for rebuking, for correcting, for training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.
2 Timothy 3:
Paul makes it clear that the Scriptures are profitable for teaching (the truths about God, us and our world that we need to know); for rebuking and correcting (so we stay on the proper path --- think back to Proverbs … the two paths of wisdom or foolishness … the WOG rebukes us when we begin to stray off the path of wisdom and corrects us by showing us the way back!) … training in righteousness (by showing us how to live a holy life).
And note … it does all this so that at the end of the day we may be complete … equipped with all we need for every good work.
And remember two weeks ago we saw that the reason God saves us? We are saved to serve!
For you are saved by grace through faith, and this is not from yourselves; it is God’s gift—not from works, so that no one can boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared ahead of time for us to do.
Ephesians
Friends … when we say the Scriptures are sufficient … we are saying that they are ENOUGH!
2 Peter 1:
His divine power has given us everything required for life and godliness through the knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness.
THRU THE KNOWLEDGE of him who called us … and just where do we get this KNOWLEDGE? Right here … in this book … and this knowledge is all that we need for “life and godliness” … ie. - to live a Christ-like life to the glory of God!
Quote: “Do we really believe that God has given us what we need in this book? Or do we think we have to supplement the Bible with other man-made things?”
What then does it mean that Scripture is sufficient?
I would ask the questions: Do we really believe that God has given us what we need in this book? Or do we think we have to supplement the Bible with other man-made things? Do we need sociological techniques to do evangelism? Do we need psychology and psychiatry for Christian growth? Do we need extra-biblical signs or miracles for guidance? Is the Bible’s teaching adequate for achieving social progress and reform?
It means that the Bible is sufficient for the church’s life and work. It is able to draw unbelievers to Christ, to enable me to grow in godliness, to provide direction to my life and to go beyond myself and beyond the church to transform and revitalize all of society.
CONCLUSION:
Two bits of advice from the veteran Paul to the younger pastor Timothy … which is excellent advice for us as well!
Stay the Course!
Are you on the proper path? Going God’s way vs. your way or the world’s way?
Grip the Scriptures!
How is your grip on the Bible? Do you read it? Think about it? Study it?
Are you struggling in your Christian walk? It may just be the case because you are neglecting the Bible!
Two quotes in closing ….
Quote: “I still believe in the authority, sufficiency, and efficacy of the Bible. I’ve got nothing else. And neither do you. The word works.” (Jared Wilson )
CSB
The instruction of the Lord is perfect,
renewing one’s life;
the testimony of the Lord is trustworthy,
making the inexperienced wise